Protests erupted in Samba district on Wednesday against the death of a young woman at a state-run hospital.

Seema Devi (28) underwent tubectomy at a special camp for family planning at Vijaypur Government Hospital yesterday, said Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Samba, Rajinder Sambyal.

He said that the woman was shifted to a ward after the operation but her condition suddenly deteriorated.

Devi was taken to the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu where she later died, he said.

As the news of her death spread, the relatives of the woman staged protests on Jammu-Pathankot highway to demand arrest of the “negligent” doctors.

Kuldeep Raj said his wife could have been saved had the doctors “bothered” to take a look at her after the procedure.

“I went to the doctors’ room at least five times. Every time I went there pleading for taking a look at his wife, they gave a cold shoulder and instead advised me to give her fruits, tea and water,” he alleged.

He said that the doctor checked her only when her condition worsened.

The protest was called off after three hours after the government announced a probe into the incident and an ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased.

“A probe has been ordered into the incident. The matter will be investigated by a five-member committee of doctors," said Sambyal, adding that the government has announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of the deceased.

“Further action will be taken after the probe report comes to us and stern action will be taken,” the officer said.